Can-cover feeding and applying machinery



Nov. 8, 1927.

G. W. MUDD CAN COVER FEEDING AND APPLYING MACHINERY 2 Sheets-Sheet J.

0 O O O Filed Jan. 9, 1924 Garrett Zzfl 1 Nov. 8, 192 7.

G. W. MUDD CAN COVER FEEDING AND APPLYING MACHINERY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1924 Patented Nov. 8, 1927..

lat ldddd 2 GARRETT \VII LIA'M MUDD, O1? CI-IICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSEIGNOB F ONE-HALF TO HARRY RAYMGND BAKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN -COVER FEEDING, AND APFLYING llIACI-IINEBY.

Application filed January 9, 19,24. Serial No. 685,136.

This invention relates to the machinery for feeding and applying can covers to cans, so that the cans may be sealed after having the covers applied thereto.

Generally stated the object of the invention is to provide an improved construction, arrangement whereby the can covers are stacked one upon the other, inright side up positioinand are then fed to the topsof the,

cans in this position, so that each coverarrives in right side up position onthe top of theican, preparatory to sealing the latter, whereby the covers are not only fed to the cans, but are also maintained thereon, preparatory to sealing the cans, in a more satisfactory manner than heretofore.

It is also an object to provide certain details and features of construction and combinations tending to increase the general efliciency and desirability of the can cover feeding and applying machine of this particular character. i

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists in matters-hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view, in part, being also a horizontal section in part, on the line 11 in Figure 2, showing the cover feeding and applying machine, embodying the principles of the invention.

Figure 2' is a. vertical longitudinal section on line 22 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse section on a larger scale, on line 33 in Figure 1.

Figure 4: is an enlarged detail section on line-4L-4 in Figure 1.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a suitable machine body 1, having mounted thereon, on the upper inclined surface thereof, a sprocket chain 2 for feeding the can covers from the stack 3 which is formed within the inclined and upwardly extending group of rods 4, which latter it will be understood, are of any suitable or desired height. depending upon the height de sired for the stack of can covers. Said sprocket chain 2 is provided with a plurality of upstanding feeding lugs 5, adapted to engage and feed forward the lowermost cover of the stack. as indicated in Figure 2, these lugs being formed with wedge shaped portions 6 for insertion between the lowermost can cover and the next one above. The stack of can seovers is supported upon a raised platform 7 which is mounted on the frame or table 1 in any suitable manner, witha clear space 8, through which the lugs Swill travel forwardbeneath the stack, thus causing the lowermost can cover tofeed forward into the guides 9 so that said displaced can cover will finally arrive upon the can 10 which is waiting in position to receive the can cover. The sprocket chain2 is mounted on sprocket wheels, 11 0f any suitable character, and operated inany suitable or desired manner, and by power communicated thereto by any suitable means. it

Now the means forholding the cans in position to receive the can covers comprises a rotary platform or table 12 mounted upon the vertically disposed shaft 13, and provided with upper and lower plates 14; and 15, having curved notches 16 therein to receive. and hold the can. This rotary platform or table rotates in the direction. indicated by the arrow 66 shown in Figure 1, and is adapted to bring the cans successively into position to receive the can covers from the previously described cover feeding means. Eachnotch 16 in the upper plate 14 is pro-- vided with a plurality of upstanding pins 17, disposed in position to catch the can cover as indicated in Figure 2, so that the displaced cancover, will stop in the right position immediately above the waiting can.

It will also be seen that a stationary bracket 18 is secured to the side of the frame land is provided with a pair of curved rods 19, extending partially around the rotary turn table, but these rods terminating at 20 as shown. Upper and lower curved guards 21 and 22 are also provided and mounted on the brackets 28 secured to the body 1 at each side thereof. These curved guards 21 and 22 terminate at 24 as shown in the drawing. Curved rods 25 are provided and supported by the brackets 26 on the guards 21 and 22, it being observed that these rods 25 are disposed, for a portion of their length, immediately above the rods 19, said rods 25 terminating one end at 3'7, and at the other end at 28, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Thus, when the can cover is displaced by the feeding mechanism, it arrives in the position shown at 29 in Figure 2. being temporarily held in this position by the upstanding pins 1'7, and being supported by the two rods 19, provided for this purpose. The turn table revolves and carries the can and Ill) the displaced can cover along, in the direction of the arrow in Figure 1, and finally this can cover is brought below the rods 25, and ultimately this can cover leaves the ends 20 of the rods 19 and is allowed to rest upon the top of the can as shown atthe right in Figure 2, and in this way the can cover is iinally applied to the can preparatory to the sealing thereof. A deflector 30 is provided in position to deflect the can and its applied cover outwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow Z), so that the can may then be sealed by any suitable or desired means, this being the method of discharging the can and its applied cover from the rotary turn table mechanism by which the cover is received from the feeding means and applied to the top of the can.

It will also be seen that a belt 31 is provided for the purpose of feeding the cans to the rotary turn table, the guards 21 and 532 having oblique extensions 32 which act as deflectors to deflect the oncoming cans onto the rotary turn table. Thus, the cans are automatically fed to the turn table, and are automatically discharged from this turn table; and in addition, the can covers are automatically and successively fed to the tops of the cans, as the latter are successively fed to the turn table, and are successively brought into position to receive the covers thus fed successively from the bottom of the stack as shown.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the covers when displaced from the bottom of the stack 3 are in an inclined position, of course, in view of the fact that the table 1 and the chain 2 and the guides 9 are disposed in an inclined position, and hence, as soon as the cover is displaced from the bottom of the stack, it will slide quickly down in the guides 9 to be received by the pins 17 in the turn table. It will be understood, of course, that the cover feeding mechanism and the rotary turn table are timed in their operation, in any suitable or desired manner, so that a can will always be waiting to receive the displaced can cover, and each displaced can cover will always be received by the waiting pins 17 below, it being obvious that the different motions of the different portions of the apparatus can be timed, in relation to each other, to accomplish this desired result.

It will be understood, of course, that the apparatus shown and described may be employed for applying not only the cover to the cans after they are filled, but also for applying the bottom before the cans are filled; In other words, by the term cover is meant the cover for either the top or the bottom of the can, as the apparatus can be used for either purpose without departing from the spirit of the invention. The can covers are stacked right side up and then delivered right side up to the feeding means, and are then delivered in tilted or inclined position to the means for receiving the covers above their allotted cans. Each can cover, therefore, will travel a distance in tilted or inclined position on top of the rods 19, but will eventually be tilted into a horizontal position on top of its allotted can.

What I Claim as my invention is:

1. In can cover feeding mechanism, the combination of means for holding the covers one on top of another in a stack with the lowermost cover in position to be displaced therefrom, and instrumentalities including an endless belt disposed flatwise in a plane immediately below and parallel with the plane of the lowermost can cover, means for operating the belt in said plane, and means forming provisions on said belt to displace the lowermost can cover from the stack, the belt being of a length to carry each displaced cover edgewise a distance in a plane above and parallel with the plane of the belt.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said means comprising upstanding lugs, each lug having a forward extension portion to engage between the lowermost can cover and the one next above.

3. A structure as specified in claim 1, comprising parallel guides disposed in the plane of the lowermost can cover, adapted to receive the lowermost cover when displaced froin the bottom of the stack.

4. A structure as specified in claim 1, said endless belt being disposed with one stretch thereof in a clear space centrally below the stack, and with its other stretch at one side of said stack.

5. A structure as specified in claim 1, in combination with means to hold a can in position, and means to receive the displaced can cover in position immediately above the waiting can.

,6. In can cover applying mechanism, the combination of a rotary table for carrying the cans around in a circular path of travel, means above said table for holding the cans in position to receive the covers, means for feeding the covers to said receiving position of the cans. curved means stationary above said table for holding the covers above the cans for a portion of said path of travel, and curved means above said table for ultimately pressing the covers down on top of the cans, each said curved means being curved about the axis of said table.

7. A structure as specified in claim 6, in combination with automatic means to feed the cans to said rotary table, and automatic means to eject the cans with their covers thereon, from said rotary table.

8. A structure as specified in claim 6, said cover engaging means being disposed in position to hold the cover in, a tilted posilot) lit)

which the covers arereceived, having grooves forming a straight path of travel for the covers, disposed in posltion to support each cover in an inclined or tilted position i1nmediately above its allotted can, and upper curved rods disposed over the table and adapted and arranged ultimately to press each cover down upon its allotted can, after the cover is released from said first mentioned curved rods.

GARRETT WVM. MUDD. 

